UDenver vs Pepperdine
Nestled in the heart of the Rocky Mountains, the University of Denver (DU) and Pepperdine University, located in the vibrant city of Malibu, California, stand as two distinct beacons of higher education. While both institutions share a commitment to academic excellence and student success, they offer unique experiences shaped by their diverse locations, student demographics, and academic strengths. With DU's acceptance rate hovering around 50% and Pepperdine's at a more selective 33%, prospective students may find themselves drawn to one university over the other. Explore the comparison table below to delve into further details, including popular majors, student body composition, graduation rates, and more, to determine which university aligns best with your aspirations and goals.
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![]() Pepperdine University |
![]() University of Denver |
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Overview |
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Location | Malibu, California | Denver, Colorado |
Campus setting | Suburb: Large | City: Large |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Private (Non Profit) | Private (Non Profit) |
Calendar system | Semester | Quarter |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 93.0% | 84.0% |
![]() |
Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | Churches of Christ | |
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 52.7% | 63.6% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$65
Graduate:
$65
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Undergraduate:
$65
Graduate:
$65
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SAT range | 1260 - 1440 | 1200 - 1390 |
ACT range | 25 - 30 | 27 - 31 |
Students submitting SAT score | 19.0% | 24.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 3.0% | 27.0% |
Total number of applicants | 11,855 | 22,694 |
Total number of admissions given out | 6,249 | 14,440 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 1,024 | 1,621 |
Yield rate | 16.4% | 11.2% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Required | Required |
Recommendation letters | Required | Required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Required | Required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price | $80,152 | $73,514 |
Average net price | $40,945 | $39,973 |
Tuition | $59,450 | $53,640 |
Room & board | $16,700 |
Room/dormitory:
$9,262
Meal plan:
$5,412
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Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
96.0%
Average amount $36,967 |
98.0%
Average amount $31,672 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
38.0%
Average amount $5,171 |
38.0%
Average amount $5,173 |
Students taking out private loans |
9.0%
Average amount $12,899 |
5.0%
Average amount $21,978 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
3,708
Men 42.3% Women 57.7% |
5,867
Men 44.8% Women 55.2% |
Graduate students |
6,738
Men 30.2% Women 69.8% |
8,263
Men 33.8% Women 66.2% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Moderate
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Low
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Out-of-state students | 46.9% | 71.9% |
International students | 8.3% | 4.1% |
Campus local/setting | Suburb: Large | City: Large |
Dormitory capacity | 2,579 | 2,647 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | California Texas Washington Colorado Arizona | Colorado California Illinois Texas Minnesota |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 13:1 | 10:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission | Higher Learning Commission |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 83.0% | 75.7% |
Dropout rate | 16.6% | 23.5% |
Transferred out | N/A | N/A |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology (Doctoral Degrees)
Educational Administration and Supervision (Doctoral Degrees)
Law (Doctoral Degrees)
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Public Policy Analysis (Master's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
International Business (Bachelor's Degrees)
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication (Bachelor's Degrees)
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Business/Commerce, General (Master's Degrees)
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology (Doctoral Degrees)
Taxation (Master's Degrees)
Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies (Master's Degrees)
Educational Administration and Supervision (Graduate/Professional Certificates)
Human Resources Management and Services (Master's Degrees)
Law (First Professional Degrees)
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Master's Degrees)
Accounting and Related Services (Master's Degrees)
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
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